Stereotype matrix molding and drying press



April 23, 1935. w. F. HUCK STEREOTYRE MATRIX MOLDING AND DRYING PRESS Filed June '7, 1933 mu lllll Avw v.

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Patented Apr. 23, 1935 PAEN'E' STEEE EOTYKE MATRIX MOLDING AND DRYING PRESS for R. Hoe a 60., line,

poration of New York New York, N. Y., a cor- Application June 7, 1933, Serial No. 674,648

1 Claim.

This invention relates to certain improvements in stereotype matrix molding and drying presses, and more particularly to a porous pressure plate through which moisture from the wet matrix will permeate while the matrix is being formed and dried in the press.

In the process of forming a stereotype matrix, a considerable amount of moisture is released from the wet matrix, which has to be absorbed or passed off to the atmosphere. The common practice has been, in the first instance, to absorb this moisture through a number of felt blankets which are inserted, together with the type form and matrix pulp layer, into the press, but the process of completing a matrix according to this practice was usually slow, due to the concentration of moisture in the blankets which retarded the drying action of the matrix and required the drying of all blankets after each operation.

In the second instance a metal plate is used which has grooves on one or both of its upper and lower surfaces, with vertically disposed openings connecting said grooves, whereby moisture was permitted to pass therethrough to the atmosphere. This practice ofiered some improvement over the first form but on such plates where grooves appeared on the lower surface the form of the groove would appear on the surface of the matrix when subjected to high pressure.

The escape of moisture wasalso' inclined to be slow due to the limited amount of open space left by said grooves and. openings.

The structure according to this invention comprises a pressure plate which consists of a multiplicity of non-corrosive wire mesh sheets, stacked to form a laminated structure, and are supported by a suitable frame. Said pressure plate is then clamped to the press head and one or more blankets are placed over the layer of wet matrix pulp lying over the type form on the press platen.

When the press is operated, the conduction of heat from the platen to the type form will rapidly evaporate all the moisture in the mat and the steam will penetrate through the single blanket to the pressure plate above. Since the pressure plate comprises layers of wire mesh, the entire plate is thereby made porous and the moisture will pass rapidly from the blanket, through the pressure plate and into the atmosphere. It is desirable, however, to apply heat to the pressure plate through the press head to prevent any condensation occurring therein, which would ordinarily occur if the pressure plate was cold.

It is therefore the object of this invention to provide a metallic pressure plate for matrix mold- (Cl. Mil-12) ing and drying presses which is porous enough to permit moisture to quickly pass therethrough, which has flexibility and which provides a substantially smooth surface for contact with the blanket to prevent marking of the matrix under pressure.

With the above and other objects'not specifically referred to in View, the invention consists in certain novel parts, arrangements and combinations which will be fully described in connection with the accompanying drawing and the novel features pointed out in the claim hereunto annexed.

In the drawing which discloses a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 1 shows the main portions of a matrix drying press to which the invention is applied, certain parts being shown in section, the parts required to form a matrix being shown also in section;

Figure 2 is a section through a completed pressure plate with part broken away;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective View showing one corner of a sheathing which is used to bind the wire mesh sheets together, and showing the sheets partly broken away; and

Figure 4- is a fragmentary plan View showing one corner of the pressure plate.

The pressure plate designated generally by the reference character ii, Figure 2, comprises a multiplicity of non-corrosive fine wire mesh sheets i2, stacked as shown and bound together by means of a sheathing i3. Said sheathing may be constructed in any desired manner, a preferred form being shown in Figures 2 and 3 which consists of two wire mesh covers, an upper cover i and a lower cover each cover having a dished portion it and a flange i'i extending around the periphery thereof.

The pad of wire mesh sheets i i is placed within 11 the dished portions 555 of the covers it and i5, as shown in Figure 2, and'two frame members iii-48 placed above and below the adjacent flanges l? are secured together by screws it, thus binding the entire structure together. The frames it reinforce the pressure plate without impairing the flexibility of the wire mesh sheets it, which preferably extend above and below the surfaces of said frames.

It is obvious that a pressure plate of this character will be a highly porous structure since the mesh formation of each of the sheets it, even though closely packed together, will provide a certain amount of clearance between each mesh portion, through which moisture can easily pass.

In Figure 1 the pressure plate is shown mounted in a press with the associated parts in the matrix molding and drying position. The press parts shown comprise a head 2! and a platen 22 either or both of which may be heated in any desirable manner as by electric heater indicated by numeral 28. The usual form of chase 23, with its type form 2t set up within it, is placed upon the platen 22, and a layer of moist matrix paper 25 is laid over said type form. Above said paper a single blanket 26 is placed, the use of which is desirable for its cushioning effect on the matrix 25. The pressure plate ii may next be placed on top of the blanket if desired, but it is preferably clamped directly to press head 25 by means of suitable clamps 2 In operation the heat of the platen 22 is conducted through the type to evaporate the moisture in the matrix 25. Said moisture is absorbed by the blanket 25 and then escapes to the atmosphere through the porous pressure plate 5 l, which plate is heated by conduction of heat from the press head 2 i. The heat being thus applied from both above and below does not permit condensation of said moisture and due to the ease in which the moisture, in the form of steam, penetrates said blanket and pressure plate, the time for drying the molded matrix is greatly reduced.

While the invention has been shown and described in its preferred form, it will be understood that certain changes and variations may be made in the specific structure provided for carrying out the invention without however departing from the spirit or" the invention as defined in the appended claim.

What I claim is: I

A pressure plate for a matrix drying press comprising a multiplicity of superimposed wire mesh sheets, a closure for said sheets including upper and lower wire mesh sheathing members adapted to completely surround said sheets, an extending flange forming the periphery of each sheathing member, said flanges having their inner faces abutting, and two reinforcing frames arranged over said flanges and adapted to be secured together to clamp the flanges therebetween.

WILLIAM F. HUCK. 

